Collapsible crate



May 6, 1924.

E. R. MARTIN COLLAPSIBLE CRATE Filed June 5, 1922 Patented May 6, 1924.

UNITED STATES EDGAR R. .MARTIN, OF ALTOQNA, PENNSYLVANIA.

COLLABSIBLE CRATE.

Application filed June 3,

To all whom it may concern: 1

Be it known that EDGAR R. MARTIN," a' citizen of the United States, residing at Altoona, in the county of Blair and State of Pennsylvania, has invented certain new and useful Improvements in Collapsible Crates, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to collapsible crates and the like that are extensively used to transport merchandise, eatables, poultry and a variety of articles, and has for its primary object an improved construction whereby the crates may be readily folded to occupy a minimum space.

Another object of this invention is to provide means whereby the ends of the crate are each provided with a plurality of slidable cross bars, the ends of which are adapted to be attached to the top and bottom portions of the crate, said cross bars each having a common pin connection in the center thereof.

With these and other objects in view which will be more readily apparent as the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists in the novel construction, combination, and arrangement of parts as will be hereinafter fully pointed out, illustrated and claimed.

It will be understood by those skilled in the art to which this invention belongs that the same is susceptible of structural changes and modifications without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention, but a preferred and thoroughly practical embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a plan view of my lmproved collapsible crate or coop in an extended position.

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the crate shown in Figure 1 of the drawings.

Figure 3 is an end View of the crate as shown in Fig. 1'. I

Figure tb is an end view of the crate as it appears in a collapsed position.

Figure 5 is a detail view showlng the top raised from the bottom, the side members being shown folded as they appear in a col lapsed position.

Figure 6 is a detail section through an end of the crate and illustrates the manner in which the end is swung into position when folded.

Figure 7 is a plan View of the collapsible 19222- Serial No. 565,554.

brace bars and illustrates the common pivot pin connection used in conjunction with both bars.

shown in Figure 7 ofthe drawings.

- Figure 8 is an edge'view of the bars In the following description 'similar'ref erence numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several figures of the drawings.

In carrying out this invention I provide a collapsible crate that will fold together so as to occupy a minimum amount of space, and this collapsible feature is made possible through the use of cooperating paired extensible and contractible slotted bars one of which is designated by the numeral 10,

section and in alinement with the slot.

Where the bars 10 and 11 cross and the slots 14 register, they receive a common pin 16 which is adapted to slide in the slotwhen opening or closing the crate. When the crate is in its extended position as shown in Figures 1 and 2' and 3, the pins 15 and 16 occupy a position adjacent each other while in the collapsed position the pins 15 are carried away from the pin 16 by the bar to which they are attached. The units must 7 obviously get shorter as the crate collapses.

The ends 17 and 18 on each of the sec-- tions 12 and 13 are pivoted to the top 19 and bottom 20 of the crate as shown in Figure 3 of the drawings, and when the crate is opened or closed the sections fulcrumon thepins 21 and 22 positioned in the top and bottom members of the crate.

The crate also includes in addition to the top and bottom. members 19 and 20, side members S, each of which is hinged to'the bottom member 20 as shown in Figure 5 of the drawings, and are adapted to be swung into position when raising the crate from its collapsed position. The manner of making the end members E is shown in Figure 6 which illustrates the said ends thrown up against the top from the position which they occupy when the crate is in its extended position.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that the crate consists of top, bottom side and end members which are hingedly connected, while the opposite edges of the top and bottom members 19 and 20 are connected by the extensible cross-braces 10 and 11. The cross-braces 10 and 11 serve mainly to anchor or tie the top and bottom members or walls 19 and 20 to which the side members S and end members E are hingedly connected by the hinges H.

I claim In a collapsible crate having top and bottom members, and side and end members hinged thereto, a pair of cross-bars connected at their opposite ends respectively to the top and bottom members, each of said bars including separate sections having registering slots, a pin projecting from the inner face of each section and slidably engaging the slot of the adjacent section whereby when the sections are extended the pins of the four sections of the crossing bars draw close together to rigidly brace the bars and a pivot pin common to both bars and located where the slots thereof register.

In testimony whereof he. ailixes his signature.

EDGAR R. MARTIN. 

